Wanderers of Ys finds new home: Ars interviews Sam Mullen

Ars sits down with Atlus to discuss the process of turning the cult classic …

There are many factors that determine whether or not a game will become a huge success and subsequently remain destined for cult-classic status. Despite being well-regarded by pretty much everyone who played it, the fact that Ys Book: I & II was originally released on the ill-fated TurboGrafx-CD meant that the number of people who would play it was kept at a minimum. Still, in spite of this, the action RPG franchise is widely regarded for its simple combat, epic story, and most of all, its supremely kick-ass soundtrack.

Soon after releasing the first two games in the series on Nintendo's Virtual Console download service, Atlus announced that it was creating a remake for the Nintendo DS. Ars spoke with Sam Mullen, project manager of the game, about the process of bringing a cult hit to a more widespread audience.

This time around, one of the major benefits that Legacy of Ys: Books I & II has is the choice of platform. As opposed to the TurboGrafx, which never achieved mainstream success, the game is being ported to the wildly popular DS handheld. "In Japan, Ys is well known in the PC gaming sphere, but most mainstream and casual gamers are unfamiliar with it," Mullen told Ars. "So, the Nintendo DS was chosen so the mainstream gaming market could have a chance to experience this classic."

But in addition to the platform, the developers have also made a few other changes in an attempt to make the game more palatable to new gamers. This includes an optional control scheme that makes use of the DS' touch screen. "The control scheme has been updated so it's more accessible and in line with modern expectations," explained Mullen. "The Turbografx version has only the 'bump' mechanic and lacks the ability to move diagonally. In this version, you can switch between the bump-based stylus method or the +Control Pad and button-initiated attack style."

This 'bump' mechanic refers to Ys unique battle system, which doesn't involve the random battles and turn-based attacks of most Japanese role-playing games. Instead, if players want to attack an enemy on screen, they simply walk, or 'bump,' into them continuously. And while it sounds pretty simple, the strategy lies in successfully hitting enemies from the back or side in order to inflict maximum damage.

But with these changes, is there any reason for series veterans to pick up the remake?

Well, aside from the beautifully revamped 3D graphics, the DS version will also bring new secrets for long-time fans to explore. "There is an additional area called Vageux-Vardette in Ys I that has never been in any other version of Ys," said Mullen, "as well as some new equipment to find." In addition to that, players no longer have to play through both games in order, as the second title is available from the get-go.

In traditional Atlus fashion, much attention has been paid to the translation, which helps to flesh out the story somewhat. "Compared to some of the previous North American releases, there is a little bit of an expanded front story, and in general the character dialog is much more detailed," Mullen told Ars. "Despite some of the normal translation hurdles we had to jump through, we think the end product is a pretty good localization of the original Japanese script."

The Ys series is also notable for launching the career of legendary game composer Yuzo Koshiro, who went on to create classic soundtracks for games like ActRaiser, Shinobi, Batman Returns, and Etrian Odyssey. Atlus is definitely paying tribute to this fact with updated sound quality and a CD soundtrack included with every copy of the game.

"There’s a reason Ys has been around for so long," Mullen explained. "From its timeless story, to the charming characters and epic setting, to the straightforward controls, Ys has stood the test of time and we believe that even modern gamers can appreciate that."

And over two decades after it was originally released, it looks like Ys will finally have the chance to reach that mainstream audience.